The RML 40-pounder gun was a British rifled muzzle-loading siege and fortification gun designed in 1871. It was intended to supersede the RBL 40-pounder Armstrong gun[3] after the British military reverted to rifled muzzle-loading artillery until a more satisfactory breech-loading system than that of the Armstrong guns was developed.
40-pounder gun on overbank carriage for use in fortifications
The original Mk I short barrel of 18 calibres suffered from irregular velocity and hence accuracy, due to incomplete burning of the powder charge, hence only 20 were built.
The Mark II of 1874 with barrel lengthened to 22 calibres solved this problem and became the definitive model.[4]
The gun consisted of a central toughened steel "A" tube surrounded by wrought-iron coils, with a trunnion ring and cascabel. Rifling was the "Woolwich" pattern of three broad grooves, with a uniform twist of 1 turn in 35 calibres (i.e. in 166.25 inches).[5]
Service use
40-pounder RML as part of a Royal Artillery Elephant Battery, India, 1900
Four 40-pounders were used during the defence of Kandahar, during the 2nd Anglo-Afghan War in 1880.[6] Ten 40-pounder RML guns were landed in Egypt in 1882 as part of a Royal Artillery Siege train formed for the Anglo-Egyptian War, however none of them were deployed in action.[7]
The guns were also deployed at Forts and Batteries around Great Britain to form part of the fixed defences. In some cases special overbank carriages were issued for this use. They remained in this role until 1902, by which time most had been dismounted and scrapped.
^1,425 feet per second (434 m/s) firing a 40-pound-2-ounce (18.20 kg) projectile with 7 pounds (3.18 kg) of R.L.G.² powder. Text Book of Gunnery 1887, Table XVI, Page 313.
^Treatise on the Construction and Manufacture of Ordnance in the British Service, 1877, Page 260.
^Treatise on the Construction and Manufacture of Ordnance in the British Service, 1877, Page 260.
^T A Heathcote (1974). The Indian Army, Newton Abbott, David and Charles, p181.
^Goodrich, Caspar F (Lt Cdr), Report of the British Naval and Military Operations in Egypt 1882, Navy Department, Washington, 1885, p.231
Bibliography
Treatise on the Construction and Manufacture of Ordnance in the British Service. War Office, UK, 1877
Text Book of Gunnery, 1887. LONDON : PRINTED FOR HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE, BY HARRISON AND SONS, ST. MARTIN'S LANE
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to RML 40 pounder gun.
Handbook for the 40-pr R.M.L. gun of 35 cwt. 1889 at State Library of Victoria
Handbook for the 40-pr R.M.L. gun of 35 cwt 1897 at State Library of Victoria
Diagram of 40pr. RML on Siege Travelling Carriage Mark II at Victorian Forts and Artillery website
April 30, 2023
pounder, british, rifled, muzzle, loading, siege, fortification, designed, 1871, intended, supersede, pounder, armstrong, after, british, military, reverted, rifled, muzzle, loading, artillery, until, more, satisfactory, breech, loading, system, than, that, ar. The RML 40 pounder gun was a British rifled muzzle loading siege and fortification gun designed in 1871 It was intended to supersede the RBL 40 pounder Armstrong gun 3 after the British military reverted to rifled muzzle loading artillery until a more satisfactory breech loading system than that of the Armstrong guns was developed RML 40 pounder gunShort Mk I barrel and lengthened Mk II barrelTypeHeavy field gun Fortification gunPlace of originUnited KingdomService historyUsed byBritish EmpireProduction historyDesignedMk I 1871 Mk II 1874SpecificationsMassMk I 34cwt 3 808 pounds 1 727 kg Mk II 35cwt 3 920 pounds 1 780 kg Barrel lengthMk I 85 5 inches 2 170 mm bore 18 calibres Mk II 104 5 inches 2 650 mm bore 22 calibres Shell40 pounds 2 ounces 18 20 kg 1 Calibre4 75 inches 121 mm ActionRMLMuzzle velocityMk II 1 425 feet per second 434 m s 2 Contents 1 Description 2 Service use 3 Notes and references 4 Bibliography 5 External linksDescription Edit 40 pounder gun on overbank carriage for use in fortifications The original Mk I short barrel of 18 calibres suffered from irregular velocity and hence accuracy due to incomplete burning of the powder charge hence only 20 were built The Mark II of 1874 with barrel lengthened to 22 calibres solved this problem and became the definitive model 4 The gun consisted of a central toughened steel A tube surrounded by wrought iron coils with a trunnion ring and cascabel Rifling was the Woolwich pattern of three broad grooves with a uniform twist of 1 turn in 35 calibres i e in 166 25 inches 5 Service use Edit 40 pounder RML as part of a Royal Artillery Elephant Battery India 1900 Four 40 pounders were used during the defence of Kandahar during the 2nd Anglo Afghan War in 1880 6 Ten 40 pounder RML guns were landed in Egypt in 1882 as part of a Royal Artillery Siege train formed for the Anglo Egyptian War however none of them were deployed in action 7 The guns were also deployed at Forts and Batteries around Great Britain to form part of the fixed defences In some cases special overbank carriages were issued for this use They remained in this role until 1902 by which time most had been dismounted and scrapped Notes and references Edit Text Book of Gunnery 1887 Table XVI Page 313 1 425 feet per second 434 m s firing a 40 pound 2 ounce 18 20 kg projectile with 7 pounds 3 18 kg of R L G powder Text Book of Gunnery 1887 Table XVI Page 313 Treatise on the Construction and Manufacture of Ordnance in the British Service 1877 Page 260 Treatise on the Construction and Manufacture of Ordnance in the British Service 1877 Page 260 Text Book of Gunnery 1887 Table XVI Page 312 T A Heathcote 1974 The Indian Army Newton Abbott David and Charles p181 Goodrich Caspar F Lt Cdr Report of the British Naval and Military Operations in Egypt 1882 Navy Department Washington 1885 p 231Bibliography EditTreatise on the Construction and Manufacture of Ordnance in the British Service War Office UK 1877 Text Book of Gunnery 1887 LONDON PRINTED FOR HIS MAJESTY S STATIONERY OFFICE BY HARRISON AND SONS ST MARTIN S LANEExternal links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to RML 40 pounder gun Handbook for the 40 pr R M L gun of 35 cwt 1889 at State Library of Victoria Handbook for the 40 pr R M L gun of 35 cwt 1897 at State Library of Victoria Diagram of 40pr RML on Siege Travelling Carriage Mark II at Victorian Forts and Artillery website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title RML 40 pounder gun amp oldid 961637112, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
